News of the Day (March 31)

Those on the e-mail list probably noticed a glitch in yesterday’s News of the Day. Apologies to all; here it is in full.

Communists arrest Catholic priest: Communist China’s persecution of religion continued with the arrest of Father Zhao Kexun, a Roman Catholic priest who was “among the more than 30 priests and other religious practitioners who have been imprisoned” (Voice of America via Epoch Times) by cadres in Hebei province. Roughly 10-12 million Catholics refuse to worship in the Communist-controlled “Catholic” church, choosing instead to risk arrest and remain loyal to Pope John Paul II.

Nationalist meet high-ranking cadre; DPP rips visit: As a delegation from Taiwan’s opposition Nationalist Party met with Jia Qingling, number four on the Communist Party hierarchy (United Press International via Washington Times), the secretary-general of Taiwan’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party ripped the trip, saying the Nationalist Party “has become the Chinese communists' propaganda tool” (BBC). Stunts such as this have turned millions of Taiwanese away from the Nationalists, who lost the presidency to DPP nominee Chen Shui-bian in 2000. Chen beat them against last year.

Panel rips “anti-secession” law, call for Taiwan to help mainland dissidents: At a reception in Taiwan for the Nine Commentaries on the Chinese Communist Party, panelists blasted the “anti-secession law,” and pleaded for Taiwan to aid dissidents on the mainland, for both its own sake and for that of the Chinese people (Epoch Times).

Communist China rips EU arms opponents as “unreasonable”: Sensing some trouble in its efforts to lift the European Union arms embargo against it, Communist China decided to fire more rhetoric at critics of France and Germany’s efforts to lift the embargo, calling said critics “unreasonable” (Agence France Presse via EU Business, link courtesy Ron Vogel, member since 2000).

Communist Foreign Minister Meets Nepalese King: Communist Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing is having talks with King Gyanendra of Nepal, who recently dissolved his nation’s elected Parliament and is ruling by decree. Nepal has been sending back Tibetan escapees from Communist China for over three years (sixth item). Report: BBC

Vegetables from Communist China are polluted with heavy metals: Due to rampant, Communist-ordered overdevelopment, pollution in Communist Chinese vegetables includes “carcinogenic heavy metals” (Epoch Times) that “can poison the blood, liver and kidneys,” and “contribute to liver cancer and damage the nervous system.”

Commentary on Communist China: Tom Donnelly, Daily Standard, has high praise for the U.S. plans to build-up India (fourth item), and sees in the move a “signal that the president and his senior lieutenants are even thinking through the problem of how to assert the Bush Doctrine and deal with China” (let’s hope he’s right). Jay Nordlinger, in National Review Online (ninth item), excerpts and praises exiled dissident Wang Dan’s Financial Times column in support of the EU arms embargo against Communist China.

Stalinists call on U.S. to remove nukes that aren’t there: In a desperate attempt to change the subject, Stalinist North Korea is calling for the six-party talks on its nuclear talks to include the removal of American nuclear weapons from South Korea (BBC). There is one problem with that demand: the U.S. doesn’t have any nuclear weapons in South Korea (UPI via Washington Times).

News of the Day (March 30)

Communist media crackdown expands: The Communist crackdown on media continues, with “warnings to three newspapers: the China Business News of Shanghai, the Economic Observer of Beijing, and the 21st Century Business Herald of Guangzhou” (Epoch Times) as well as Nan Fang Daily in Guangdong. To ensure their warnings are followed, “When the Propaganda Department finds fault with a reporter, editor, or supervisor, the Department also withholds several months of the individual’s pay.”

Professor fired for ripping Communist media control: Meanwhile, Beijing University Professor Jiao Guobiao has been fired for “an astonishingly bold paper” (BBC) he wrote last year “attacking the Communist Party's propaganda department.” Jiao “accused it of sheltering corrupt officials and compared the state censors to those in Nazi Germany.” Prior to getting canned, his books had already been banned, and “he was included in a blacklist of intellectuals forbidden from appearing in the media.”

Communist China comes to Kofi Annan’s defense: As United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan came under fire for the disastrous oil-for-food scandal, Communist China – whose military-owned firm pocketed over $300 million in oil-for-food vouchers for selling Saddam Hussein missile parts – loudly defended him (Cybercast News).

Whither India? In the geopolitical battle between the United States and Communist China - what this quarter calls Cold War II – the role of India is easily the most important in deciding who wins. India has considered Communist China its number one security problem, and the “Walker’s World” column (UPI/Washington Times) finds the regime to be a major reason behind the Bush Administration’s strong ties with New Delhi. Still, The Economic Times (India) finds that Communist China is leaving no stone unturned in its own attempt to win over the world’s largest democracy. If this Communist “charm offensive” is to be beaten back, the Administration must be more open and active about the Communist China threat, and thus make clear it shares India’s security worries.

Chinese Communist Party adds more members – without their knowledge: How can the Chinese Communist Party have over 66 million members? Well, according to Liu Yang (Epoch Times) gives two reasons: for survival – “many people join the CCP so as not to become its target” – and in some cases, people “join” the party without being told – “Mr. A was speechless, as without knowing, he had been a member of the party for several years.” That can certainly swell the Party ranks!

Nine Commentaries spread in Taiwan and Britain: The Nine Commentaries on the Chinese Communist Party continues to spread in ethnic Chinese communities around the world, including Britain. Even non-Chinese, such as the Reverend Frank Julian Gelli, were thrilled to see their publication. As one would expect, the Commentaries are very popular on the island democracy of Taiwan (all links from the Epoch Times).

On the State of the Workers (and their organs) in the Workers’ State: Feng Changle, Epoch Times, reveals the chilling story of Yang Jie, who was told she could donate part of her liver to her husband to help him live. After the operation, her husband was dead, while her liver was donated to others for “the expenses of your hospitalization for you.” She has since appealed to Beijing, where “I was detained for 12 hours by the police.”

On Taiwan: Frank Gaffney, Jr., of the Center of Security Policy, has high praise for House Majority Leader Tom DeLay on several issues, including the island democracy, in the Washington Times. On the opposite end, also in Washington Times, is Harlan Ullman, who in the midst of a column on many things includes an “analysis” of Communist China’s “anti-secession law” that borders on straight Beijing propaganda.

More Commentary on Communist China: Robert Samuelson (Washington Post) and Randall Parker (Parapundit founder and member since 2003) discuss the effect of the Communist thirst for oil on U.S. energy policy. John Patrick, China Support Network, rips columnist George Will for the latter’s naiveté on Communist China (fourth item).

Stalinist execution video taken to UN: The United Nations Human Rights Commission is taking up the issue of Stalinist North Korea today (Cybercast News). Among the things the commission will consider is the recent execution video smuggles out of SNK.

UN bird flu official visits SNK: Hans Wagner, dubbed a “senior United Nations bird flu expert” by the BBC, is in Stalinist North Korea to examine the spread of the disease which the Stalinists claimed they had already contained (last item).

CATO makes bad call on SNK: Ted Galen Carpenter, the CATO Institute’s vice president for defense and foreign policy studies, calls for the Bush Administration to “call North Korea’s bluff” and give the Stalinists what they want in exchange for their nuclear disarmament. As expected, his Fox News column says nothing about what happens if they turn down or break the deal – and liberation is never mentioned.

News of the Day (March 29)

Australia looks to sell uranium to Communists: The Australian government “has begun negotiations with Chinese officials to sell uranium to the energy-hungry Asian giant in a deal that is expected to be signed within 12 months” (Christian Science Monitor). The Australian deal has a lot of people very worried. Sadly, the Bush Administration, which is busy helping Westinghouse in its effort “to sell four nuclear reactors to China,” is not among them. Communist China is hoping to build almost 50 nuclear power plants over the next twenty years. Be afraid; be very afraid.

Australian public against Taiwan war, sort of: Meanwhile, the Australian public has apparently decided not to support taking up arms to defend Taiwan should the Communists invade, according to a poll cited by CNN, although the wording of the question – which mentions a “war with China over the independence of Taiwan” – should give one pause, since the cadres are planning to invade no matter what Taiwan does.

Communist China wants to limit American weapons in space: Communist China is calling for a treaty to limit arms in space, in reaction to U.S. efforts to protect its satellites orbiting the globe (Washington Post). What the Communists don’t tell the paper is their desire to have a clear shot at those very satellites in the event of a conflict.

U.S. will promote democracy, but gives no specifics on Communist China: The State Department released a report announcing that the status of ties with other governments ‘depends on the treatment of their own people’” (Washington Times). However, the report said nothing about consequences for Communist China’s massive rights abuses.

Japan and Communist China meet on territorial dispute: The cadres sent a delegation to Japan for talks on “areas of the ocean the two countries both claim” (Voice of America via Epoch Times). Japan called the talks “very constructive,” but no progress was made.

Koziumi gets star power behind him on EU arms ban: Just one day after French President Jacques Chirac visited Japan and publicly differed with Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi on the possible lifting of the European Union arms embargo against Communist China, the Japanese PM hosted Richard Gere, who publicly backed his efforts to convince the EU to keep the ban in place. Report: BBC

Resignations at 550,000 and counting: The number of resignations from the Chinese Communist Party has now hit 550,000, and the Communists are so spooked that they “began to require local governments to implement ‘anti-cult’ education and reinforce CCP’s ‘progressive’ position” (Epoch Times). Among the more recent ex-members are alumni of Tsinghua University, expatriate Chinese in Boston, and Liu Jiansheng, who of his discussion with a soldier who “shot down eight students” at Tiananmen Square and of a murder in the name of the “one child” policy (all links from the Epoch Times).

Commentary on the Chinese Communist Party: Guangshu, in the Epoch Times, blames the “the cult of Marxism and Leninism” for creating the CCP, and the 1930’s Japanese Empire for invading China and giving the CCP “its second birth.”

Grand National Party blasts Stalinist executions; Roh dovishness: The recent video of three executions in Stalinist North Korea reached democratic South Korea this week (Washington Times). As expected, the pro-American opposition Grand National Party and human rights activists demanded President Roh Moo-hyun “take a stronger stand on human rights violations.” Roh, narrowly elected in 2002, has repeatedly soft-pedaled any criticism of Stalinist-in-chief Kim Jong-il.

Corruption scandals take down Roh minister, Uri legislative majority: South Korean Construction and Transportation Minister Kang Dong-suk resigned this week amid “allegations that he passed on insider knowledge on land deals to his sister and a school classmate” (BBC). Meanwhile, President Roh’s Uri Party lost its majority in the National Assembly when two members were removed for corruption, although Roh still has effective control in the legislature due to “the support of the opposition Democratic Labor and Millennium Democratic parties” (Chosun Ilbo, SK) on major issues.

News of the Day (March 28)

Japan and France clash over EU arms embargo: French President Jacques Chirac visited Japan and publicly restated his support for lifting the European Union arms embargo against Communist China despite growing opposition. Chirac’s hosts, meanwhile, publicly repeated their strong objection to the idea – Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary called Chirac’s plans "a big problem” (Cybercast News). Also reporting: BBC

Communists rip Taiwanese march, remain silent about leaked invasion plan: As one would expect, Communist China took aim at the one million Taiwanese who took to the streets of Taipei (second item) to express their opposition to the Communists’ “anti-secession law”. According to the Communists, to demand “Peace” (Newsmax) from them is to create “new tension.” No one has asked about the tension caused by their leaked plans to invade the island democracy in 2012.

Nationalists send delegation to mainland: Meanwhile, the Nationalist Party – the leading “pan-blue” opposition in Taiwan – sent a thirty-member delegation to Communist China “aimed at easing tensions with Beijing” (BBC). Little stunts like this have led millions of Taiwanese to wonder about how cozy the “pan-blues” really are with the Communists – and such worry has fueled both election victories (2000 and 2004) for Democratic Progressive President Chen Shui-bian.

Commentary on Taiwan: George Will has a weak Newsweek column predicting “consumerism” will get the better of the Communists’ plans for Taiwan and the world. Joseph Nye, of Harvard, throws around a lot of facts, but no robust defense of Taiwan, in the Taipei Times (via Taiwan Security Research). The editors of the Asian-Pacific Post (Canada) have a much more realistic view on Communist China’s treatment of its own people and saber-rattling on Taiwan. John Downing, Toronto Sun, gives a quick analysis of the situation and laments that “Canada and the world haven't the guts to threaten to ban Chinese trade if China attacks what deserves to be a sovereign island.” The Taipei Times also interviewed Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council Chairman Joseph Wu.

U.S. dollar could take a hit from Communist China: The U.S. dollar is still the world currency lodestar, but that could change dramatically “if China decided to sharply diversify its reserves portfolio away from dollars and toward euros” (Washington Times). While this would mean the Communists would have to end their deliberating cheapening of their currency – which has greatly damaged both American industry and exporters among U.S. allies in Asia – such a move can’t be ruled out if and when the Communists decide the time has come to break the dollar.

U.S. leads in nanotech spending, for now: The United States is the largest investor in nanotechnology, spending “about $1 billion last year” (Washington Post), more than “every other country, including the entire European Union.” However, Communist China is already at $900 million, and that’s just the official numbers. Moreover, the U.S. spending is not in nanotech weapons, where Communist China maintains a large edge.

Communist banks told to shape up: The China Banking Regulatory Commission is calling on Communist banks to “combat the growing cases of fraud and mismanagement” (BBC). The news comes as yet another Communist-owned bank was hit with scandal – “A former Bank of China employee was arrested on Sunday in connection with the alleged embezzlement of $6 million.”

Did Stalinist North Korea send Megumi Yokota’s remains after all? That is the question scientists are asking after Nature magazine claimed that the DNA tested conducted by Japan on remains sent by SNK were “inconclusive” (Time Asia) and that the testing itself ran a “high risk of contamination.” This was the second set of remains sent by the Stalinists – the first set was more certainly false. Kim Jong-il himself admitted his regime kidnapped thirteen Japanese from 1978 to 1983, but insisted eight are dead, including two on the same day, right after they managed to smuggle a letter home. Many believe at least some of the eight are still alive. The other five were supposed to make a short trip to Japan in late 2002 and have never returned since, resulting in their childen being held hostage for a year and a half. Ms. Yokota, one of the supposed dead, was a teenage when she was abducted.

Stalinists admit to bird flu outbreak, sort of: The Kim Jong-il regime acknowledged an outbreak of avian “bird” flu, among “a few” (CNN) chicken farms, but insisted “emergency measures and meticulously organized veterinary and anti-epizootic work” stopped the spread of the disease. If the actions of SNK’s Communist allies on SARS is any indication, the reality is likely a lot worse South Korea took little time to announce “it is ready to help the North” (BBC) with aid, so we can expect a story much closer to the truth now that the Stalinists see outside support coming from it.

News of the Weekend (March 26/27)

Communist China planning to invade Taiwan in 2012, says highly placed source: An unnamed “high level CCP official” told the Epoch Times that the Communist leadership “set up the timeline for attacking Taiwan” early in 2004. The purpose for the invasion of the island democracy will be “to resolve conflicts inside China, no matter whether Taiwan announce independence or not.” The pieces of the plan were as follows:

Prior to 2008, every policy should center one the Olympics to further arouse Chinese people’s patriotism and prepare for attacking Taiwan. Around 2010, reorganize the Party and clean out all the members who are against military action. Around 2012, attack Taiwan and call for an Emergency Act inside China. Through the Emergency Act, the CCP could confiscate private property, especially people’s savings, to resolve its financial and economic crises. Eliminate the groups inside China that the CCP deems "anti-government forces", such as Falun Gong, unofficial churches, human rights activists, advocates for Tibetan independence, advocates for the independence of Xinjian (East Turkestan), and intellectuals. Arouse Chinese people’s patriotism through the Emergency Act in order to resolve the unemployment issue.

The aforementioned anonymous cadre fears “all these steps means China is closer to fascism.” This source specifically cited the newly minted “anti-secession law” as part of the plot to “give the right of calling for military actions to the CCP chairman.” That man is now Hu Jintao, who at the time of the plans formation was Vice-Chairman of the all-important Party Central Military Commission Chairman. Jiang Zemin, who as Party CMC Chair led the early 2004 discussion that led to the invasion plan, reportedly told Hu earlier this month, “if we have to attack Taiwan, the earlier the better.”

“Anti-secession law” angers one million Taiwanese and upsets Japan: If the above information is true, the Communists likely don’t care a whit about this, but roughly one million Taiwanese poured into Taipei to protest the “anti-secession law” (Voice of America via Epoch Times, Scotland on Sunday). They came from everywhere in the island democracy to protest the Communists, with one legislator commenting about the Communist reaction to the march (second item): “Nothing we do pleases them, so why should we care” (BBC). Meanwhile, Japan used a meeting with Communist military generals to express their problems with the “law” (Washington Times).

“Anti-secession law” attached to mass resignations: At a National Taiwan University symposium for the Nine Commentaries on the Chinese Communist Party, Epoch Times editor-in-chief Guo Jun opined that the “anti-secession law” was “related to the 300,000 people withdrawing from the CCP.” At present, the resignations now stand at roughly half a million, and include more quitters from Taiwan and the U.S. – (both Epoch Times).

Secretary of State says Communist China will “make amends” on Taiwan: Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice told the Washington Post that Communist China “will begin to make amends” for the “anti-secession law.” She also believed she made progress in pushing the Communists on Stalinist North Korea’s nuclear ambitions – and if you think you’ve heard this fallacy before, it’s because you have, and yes, it’s still wrong. Regarding SNK itself, Rice was silent – once again, no push for liberation.

Communists appoint new Ambassador to United States: Zhou Wenzhong is his name, and Vice Foreign Minister was his old post, where last fall he “demanded that the United States stop arming Taiwan and denounced the House resolution (on Hong Kong) as interference in China's domestic affairs” (Washington Times). This should be fun.

Would-be Tibetan refugee charged with lying: The Department of Homeland Security is claiming that Sonam Chodon lied about being a Tibetan nun to get into the U.S., claiming “when federal agents traveled to Nepal and showed Chodon's picture at the nunnery . . . people at the nunnery said they had never heard of her” (Washington Post). While yours truly is no lawyer, the fact that Nepal is itself a dictatorship cozying up to the Communists and deporting Tibetans as fast as they can find them (See Tibet News here, here, here, and here), the fact that the nunnery went silent of Ms. Chodon may say more about Nepal than it does about her.

As the Battle of Palace 88 heads to civil court, Falun Gong computers are attacked: In North Carolina, a Falun Gong practitioner was hit with a Trojan virus. What made the attack unusual was that it came via an e-mail supposedly from another practitioner, while “content of the email contained a list of Falun Gong practitioners being persecuted in China” (Epoch Times). From this quarter, it appears the latter practitioner was “spoofed” – it happened to yours truly twice last year – but who did the spoofing remains in question. What is more certain is what happened outside the Palace 88 Restaurant in New York two years ago, when a two practitioners were beaten by a pro-Communist mob lead by “Guanjun Liang and Junxiong Hua, leaders of the United Federation of the New York Chinese Associations” (Epoch Times). That case is now in civil court.

Commentary: The London Daily Telegraph zings EU leaders who want the arms ban on Communist China lifted (via Washington Times). Lev Navrozov, Newsmax, laments America’s refusal to recognize the Communist lead in the race for post-nuclear weapons.

News and Commentary on Stalinist North Korea: Stalinist Premier Pak Pong Ju returned home from Communist China saying nothing abut future talks on SNK’s nuclear arsenal (Washington Post, fourth item). Tony Bradbury, who heads the United Nation’s food aid efforts in SNK, called for more aid, but “rejected concerns that food aid from his agency was actually helping to feed North Korean government and army personnel” (VOA via Epoch Times). Numerous reports from dissidents/defectors have fingered the Stalinists for stealing food aid from their won people (seventh paragraph). Meanwhile, the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom surprise no one by reporting “a pattern of arrest, imprisonment, torture and execution for public expressions of religion” (Washington Times, last item) in SNK.

However, the link of the weekend on SNK easily came from Abraham Cooper of the Simon Wiesenthal Center and the North Korean Freedom Coalition. In the Washington Post, Cooper details the evidence of the Stalinist testing chemical weapons on their own people, and rightly demands the U.S. and its allies push to bring it to an end. Sadly, not even Cooper can bring himself to demand liberation for northern Korea.

News of the Day (March 25)

European people siding against their leaders on embargo: The European people continue to oppose the plans of their own leaders to lift the European Union arms embargo against Communist China (International Herald Tribune). They got some added support from the British Parliament, where “the defense, foreign affairs, international development, and trade and industry committees of the House of Commons” (Cybercast News) advised against lifting the weapons ban. France and Germany have been pushing for the ban to end, while Britain has recently been all over the place.

Communists warn Taiwanese on rally against “anti-secession law”: As President Chen Shui-bian prepares to lead hundreds of thousands of Taiwanese in a march against Communist China’s “anti-secession law” (Voice of America via Epoch Times), the cadres used their mouthpieces in the press to warn “that the protests could worsen already tense relations between the two sides” (BBC). Luckily, Communist China, which has never set foot on Taiwan, can’t arrest anyone – yet. Meanwhile, Taiwanese Premier Frank Hsieh loudly defended his country’s right to exist in the Washington Post.

Hu Jintao tells SNK cadre to stick to talks: The Communist leader supposedly told Stalinist Premier Pak Pong-ju “that dialogue is the only way to settle the dispute” (Washington Times). Given the history of the talks, this is less surprising than it seems.

Kyrgyz opponent to land giveaway to Communists named Attorney General: The downfall of Kyrgyzstan tyrant Askar Akayev has brought Azimbek Beknazarov, who became a dissident there due to his opposition to a treaty that gave 90,000 hectares to the Communists (twelfth paragraph), into the new government. He is now Attorney General (Zaman Online, Turkey). No reaction has come from Communist China, but as Stratfor noted (via Cybercast News) the cadres “have a tendency to view any upheaval in regions where they take interest as part of a conspiracy orchestrated by the United States.”

Canadian Foreign Minster hears it for silent at UN on Communist rights abuses: Canadian Foreign Minister Pierre Pettigrew refused to discuss Communist China during a speech “to the United Nations Commission on Human Rights” (Epoch Times). For that, Amnesty International, local Tibetan and Uighur groups, and Conservative MP Jason Kenney (the fellow who visited Zhao Ziyang’s family to pay his condolences, seventh item) ripped Pettigrew for his silence on the Communists.

Dr. Jiang Yanyong – SARS hero and Tiananmen critic – freed from house arrest: Communist China has released Dr. Jiang Yanyong from house arrest (Washington Post, fourth item). The good doctor blew the whistle on a 2003 SARS cover-up in Beijing, and a year later publicly called for the Communists to admit that the Tiananmen massacre was a mistake. He had been under detention of some kind for over nine months.

Two young workers in Communist China buried alive by cadres in cover-up: In order to cover up the role of a factory in poisoning five female workers, three of whom were “under 16, the legal age for factory work” (Washington Post), cadres in Xixuying, a town 200 miles southwest of Beijing, buried alive two of the five girls. The parents won a visit from “a team from the Public Security Ministry to exhume the bodies and conduct tests to confirm the cause of death.” However, the Beijing “team” left several questions unanswered, and the locals of Beixinzhuang, the home village of the deceased are not happy. The factory also best symbolizes the farcical nature of “private” ownership – its “owner” is Xixuying’s Deputy Mayor.

East Turkestan cadre resigns as Nine Commentaries spread throughout Beijing: A Vice-Department of Public Security for “Xinjiang” – the name the cadres have given East Turkestan during its nearly fifty-six year occupation of that nation) – has quit the Chinese Communist Party after 30 years. He rips his ex-colleagues for persecuting Falun Gong, slandering the Tiananmen massacre victims, and the mass murder of the Uighurs. Two university students – Feng Daosheng and Lu Siwen – talked to Sound of Hope Radio about the wave of resignations (now approaching half a million). Among others commenting on this were Chen Jun, Epoch Times (which has all the links in this item), and two ex-members who – for obvious reasons – prefer to be known only as Ms. Zhang and Mr. Guan. Meanwhile, the Nine Commentaries on the Chinese Communist Party continue to spread in Beijing via short-wave radio.

Time Asia examines investing in Communist China: Somewhat surprisingly, they don’t bring rose-colored glasses to the subject (Jim Erickson). One banker, despite doing well, has deep, well-founded suspicions about Communist China, in part due to his suffering during the Cultural Revolution (Michael Schuman). Jim Huang, who has also succeeded, had this to say to Hannah Beech: “there are con artists everywhere. They will cook their books. They will lie during presentations.” The other three pieces (Schuman again, Susan Steptoe, and Susan Jakes) have the more Pollyannaish spin. In particular, Jakes completely ignores the fact that her subject may have succeed due to family ties.

Other Commentary and Analysis: Barton W. Marcois, of RJI Capital Corp., and attorney Leland R. Miller detail Communist China’s true intentions in the Middle East, and how they conflict with ours, in the Washington Times. Michael Elliot has a mediocre review in Time Asia of the continent’s geopolitical situation. Kishore Mahbubani, dean of the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy in Singapore, has a much worse piece in the magazine on what she thinks U.S. policy toward the Communists should be. William Green, also of Time Asia, talks about property prices in Communist China – and forgets to mention the role of corrupt cadres and land seizures in Communist “real estate.”

News of the Day (March 24)

Oops! “Anti-secession law” creates backlash: It is just beginning to dawn on the cadres that their “anti-secession law” against Taiwan is “spoiling a strategy for relations with Taiwan, undercutting a drive to end Europe's arms embargo and reinforcing unease over the growth in Chinese military power” (Washington Post via MSNBC).

Communist Crackdown on campus web sites expands: The Communists’ evisceration of a student BBS at Qinghua University (called Tsinghua by the Washington Post) is not unique: “similar restrictions were put in place at universities in Shanghai, Tianjin, Xian, Hangzhou, Jilin, Wuhan and Guangzhou.” Nanjing University also saw this crackdown – despite a student protest similar to the one at Qinghua/Tsinghua (third item).

Taiwanese businessman talks about dangers of investing in Communist China: Xue Yuhuang, a Taiwanese businessman, talked to the Liberty Times about his harrowing experiences as an “investor” in Communist China. He fought and lost, against local corruption, and while he “was able to recover 90 percent of the original investment and able to withdraw successfully, but his brother-in-law, who had invested $70 million in Taiwan currency, lost every penny” (Liberty Times via Epoch Times).

Resignations approach 450,000: The number of Chinese Communist Party members resigning in response Nine Commentaries passed 450,000 (Epoch Times).

On the “legacy” of Tiananmen: The quotes are for attribution, not sneering, since Jim Hoagland of the Washington Post used it to describe why he and so many others (including this quarter) refuse to accept Communist China’s continuing rise with open arms: “because time has not wiped away the essential truth the Chinese government continues to deny: The 1989 protests were among the greatest acts of mass valor and decency in that or any nation's history.”

China Inc. reviewed again: This time The New Republic’s Hope Glassberg examines the book, and finds it too broad in scope, but does not go after it the way other reviewers have for its political tin ear (fifth item).

News of the Day (March 23)

Communist push for U.S. concessions to Stalinist North Korea “wearing thin”: The constant drumbeat from the cadres in Beijing demand the United States add to its already considerable concessions to the Stalinist regime is “wearing thin in Washington” (Cybercast News). According to one analyst, “Beijing has to choose between North Korea and the U.S. and can no longer keep having it both ways.” At the risk of being rude, yours truly has already predicted how that will go.

Cadres pledge to fight “media corruption”: Ostensibly, the Communists are “barring journalists from reporting if they are found to have made up stories or taken bribes” (BBC). Already, there are “fears among those trying to write about abuses of power or corruption that they could be targeted,” and from here, those fare are well justified.

As resignations spread, some wonder if “anti-secession law” was to counter it: Although the Communist regime has never set foot on Taiwan, many mainlander members certainly have come to the island democracy. One of them, formerly the Director of the Shanghai Hospital Pediatrics Department, quit the party and called on “other mainland Chinese living in Taiwan to read the “Nine Commentaries” and withdraw from the CCP.” This was reported by the Epoch Times, which also recorded the resignations of cadre Wu Tian, a lifetime member who – for obvious reasons – would only call herself Yansheng, and even several Russian Communists. In light of the mass resignations (now over 440,000), some believe the Communists passed their “anti-secession” law against Taiwan “to revert the impending fate of disintegration” as Zhong Lihua of Taiwan’s Liberty Times (via Epoch Times) put it. Stephen Gregory, the Epoch Times United States Editor, concurs. Zhang Tianliang, also in the Epoch Times, remains convinced the Nine Commentaries could end Communism in China regardless.

Cadres admit to terrible water pollution, sort of: Communist China is admitting that water pollution is so rampant that “a third of China's rural population – an estimated 360m people – lack access to safe drinking water” (BBC). Even here the cadres are lying; the actual number of citizens drinking water “unfit for human consumption” (seventh paragraph) is at least 700 million.

On the State of the Workers in the Workers’ State: One of the biggest fears among inhabitants of Communist China’s rural interior is “falling ill, since it requires an expensive trip to see a doctor.” The editors of the Epoch Times detail how workers in the rural interior have grown poorer and poorer every year.

Other Commentary and Analysis: Ellen Bork, Deputy Director of the Project for the New American Century, reprints and lauds a letter from dissidents in Communist China calling for the European Union to keep its arms embargo on the regime. James T. Hackett, Washington Times, calls for a greater emphasis on missile defense to counteract “China's steady military buildup in support of a fanatical determination to control Taiwan.” Li Difei, Epoch Times, examines the lengths to which the cadres have gone to block New Tang Dynasty Television from being aired in Communist China.

News of the Day (March 22)

Rush to lift EU arms embargo losing steam: Due to “second thoughts” (London Times) from several members of the European Union, the plan to lift the EU arms embargo against Communist China is in serious trouble. Among those getting skittish are the UK, the Netherlands, and the Czech Republic. Even Germany’s Green Party – part of the governing coalition there – is “uneasy” about it. Also reporting: BBC, Cybercast News

Kadeer calls for democracy in China; Government-in-exile grants asylum en masse: The East Turkestan government in exile officially granted temporary asylum to “all Chinese political prisoners and dissidents in Communist jails on East Turkestani soil” (press release). Meanwhile, recently exiled Uighur activist Rebiya Kadeer “said she will remain in the U.S. as an advocate of Uighur rights” (Bloomberg).

Human rights groups angry at U.S. refusal to condemn Communist abuses in UN: The decision by the United States not to sponsor a UN resolution criticizing Communist China’s human rights abuses (second item) earned the U.S. criticism of its own from Human Rights Watch and the Falun Gong Human Rights Working Group (Epoch Times).

Commentary and Analysis: The editors of the Washington Times have high praise for
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice’s ripping the EU’s plans to lift its arms embargo against the Communists. Dana Dillon, of the Heritage Foundation, sounds the alarm at the Communists’ attempt to drive wedge between the U.S. and Australia (Fox News). Gal Luft and Anne Korin, both from the Institute for the Analysis of Global Security, note the growing ties between Communist China and Saudi Arabia. Tong Qing, Epoch Times, praises the U.S. for not allowing Communist Party members to immigrate. One hundred doctors anonymously plead for better education in Communist China’s impoverished rural interior (reprinted by the Epoch Times). Jonathan Kent, BBC, examines the pitfalls faced by those looking for those mythical “one billion customers.”

Stalinist official in Communist China: Pak Pong-ju, whose official title in Stalinist North Korea is Premier, is visiting Communist China for economic talks (BBC).

SNK claims to have more nukes as Rice “hints” of sanctions: The Stalinists are “claiming to have boosted its nuclear weapons arsenal” (CNN) in response to what they called U.S. plans “to isolate and stifle the DPRK (North Korea)” (Channel News Asia). What was this plan for isolation, you ask? The words of Secretary of State Rice “hinting that North Korea could face sanctions if it refuses to return to multiparty talks on its nuclear programs” (Cybercast News); that certainly falls far short of liberation.

SNK execution video smuggled out: The shootings of those who were helping refugees have stunned Japanese viewers (New York Times via International Herald Tribune).

Kim Jong-il love child in Japan: The Stalinist-in-chief has a mistress and a daughter in Japan, where police “keep an eye on mother and daughter out of concern for their safety” (Newsmax). One of KJI’s sons survived an assassination attempt last year.

News of the Day (March 21)

Secretary of State Rice visits East Asia: Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice visited Japan, South Korea, and Communist China, in a high-octane trip that was a combination of promising and maddening moments. On the plus side, Rice publicly lauded Japan’s effort to increase its global power: “Japanese leadership in advancing freedom is good for the Pacific community, and good for the world” (Washington Post). She also had harsh words for the Communists’ “anti-secession law” – “not a welcome development” (BBC) – and gave the rhetorical double barrel to the European Union’s effort to lift its arms embargo against Communist China (Cybercast News, Washington Times).

Now for the bad news: she also called on the Communists to fulfill the long-time Washington fantasy of pushing Stalinist North Korea to dismantle its nuclear arsenal (Washington Times), stuck by the idiotic “one China” policy (Agence France Presse/ Yahoo), and attended services at a Communist-run “church” (Cybercast News). The Communist press seemed to like her, which in and of itself should give her pause (BBC).

Rebiya Kadeer is free, but what about these three? While the release of Rebiya Kadeer is good news (fifth item), many other Uighurs from occupied East Turkestan (independent until the Communists brutally conquered it in 1949) are still languishing in jail. The BBC summarizes the plight of three of them Tohti Tunyaz, Abdulghani Memetemin, and Muhammed Tohti Metrozi.

Students at Qinghua University protest BBS crackdown: Cadres afraid of letting students speak their minds shut down Qinghua University BBS. Despite a student protest (Epoch Times), the BBS was “turned into a lifeless, ordinary announcement board”.

Eutelsat gets more criticism: International Federation of Journalists joined the chorus of critics who laid into Eutelsat for its decision to drop the signal of New Tang Dynasty Television in East Asia (fifth item). Report: Epoch Times

Hotel that pulled rooms from Falun Gong practitioners under Justice probe: The Department of Justice “has decided to investigate Homestead Studio Suites for civil rights violations in connection with revoking hotel reservations made by Falun Gong practitioners” (Epoch Times). While this was not necessarily news (sixth item), the attorney for the practitioners, who are suing Homestead, publicly charged cadres from the Communist consulate in Houston: “Then people from the Chinese Consulate went to Homestead. The next thing that happens is my clients get their reservations cancelled” (Epoch Times). So that’s why they let Yao Ming play for the Houston Rockets.

Rally at UN: A number of Chinese dissident groups and supporters, including the China Support Network gathered in from of the United Nations calling for the European Union to keep its arms embargo against Communist China. Yours truly was unable to attend, but I sent ahead a brief statement to be read for me.

400,000 and counting: The number of resignations from the Chinese Communist Party zoomed past 400,000 over the weekend, as The Nine Commentaries on the Chinese Communist Party continued to have its effect. The renouncements continued to come thicker and faster; the Epoch Times reported the resignations of a retired military officer, a commercial manager, two long-time married ex-cadres, a previously ambitious party member, and a friend of persecuted Falun Gong practitioners. Several resignations from abroad also came in, including (Epoch Times for all) a reporter from Germany, several expatriates in New York, over 50 Beijing University alumni, and even a previous long-time pro-Communist activist in Boston. “Rainy Night” wrote the Epoch Times calling for more resignations, while yours truly had a piece there on the resignations’ significance.

The Washington Post proves its managing editor wrong again: A while ago, Washington Post managing editor Phillip Bennett insisted “his paper never characterizes China as a dictatorship” (fifth item). Twice this weekend, his own paper’s editorial page took issue with him: ripping the Bush Administration for sugar-coating Communist China’s “underlying system of repression,” and calling the regime “undemocratic” in sounding the alarm about its ties to Venezuelan caudillo Hugo Chavez.

More Commentary on Communist China: Matthew Little, Epoch Times, rips Western media companies for their eagerness to make deals with the Communists. Chowa Choo, also Epoch Times, aims at the EU plans to lift its embargo against the Communists. Molly Daniels-Ramunujan reviews Ted Fishman’s China Inc. (Epoch Times again). The editors of the Washington Post blast human rights abuse, while Ross Terrill, of Harvard, calls for the President to bring his democracy advocacy to East Asia in the Weekly Standard. Japan’s Yomiuri Shimbun (via Washington Times, last item) comments on the end of the Tung Chee-hwa era in Hong Kong. Michael Coren, Toronto Sun, among other things, rails against Communist China’s hunger to swallow Taiwan.

U.S. will push for UN resolution against Stalinist North Korea on human rights: The U.S. will “co-sponsor resolutions on North Korea” condemning its human rights abuses in the United Nations Human Rights Commission, but as reported last week (second item) Communist China will get a pass from the United States (Newsmax).

Oops! U.S. kept Pakistan’s role in SNK-Libya uranium shipment quiet: Apparently, Stalinist North Korea did not sell uranium directly to Libya, as reported last month (last item). Pakistan was SNK’s buyer – and they sold it to Libya. While the Washington Post, focused on how America’s push for more talks on the SNK’s nuclear arsenal will be damaged, the involvement of Pakistan – a long-time Communist ally and supporter of anti-Indian Kashmir terrorists (see News on Communist China and the Terrorist War) – is far more significant. As for SNK: the problem is not the weapons; it’s the regime.

Rumsfeld calls South Korean troop pullback overdue: Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld stood by his plans to reduce the American military presence in South Korea, citing the democratic South’s need to “assume a greater and greater share of the responsibility for providing both the deterrent and the defensive capability on the Korean peninsula” (Voice of America via Epoch Times).

News of the Day (March 18)

“Anti-secession law” revives U.S. arms package to Taiwan: The $18 billion arms sale from the U.S. to Taiwan – stymied after December’s legislative elections on the island democracy – have new life after the Communists passed their “anti-secession law.” The package is slightly smaller now - $15.8 billion. Report: Washington Post

Russia says joint exercise with Communist China not aimed at Taiwan: General Yury Baluyevsky, head of Russia’s military, denied earlier reports that his military’s upcoming joint exercise with Communist China included “a Chinese invasion in Taiwan” (Novosti, Russia). The general stated the joint war games were “by no means directed against any third party,’ and called the invasion drill report “pure fiction.” Russia remains Communist China’s largest arms supplier.

Ukraine admits sending missiles to Communist China: The government of Ukraine “admitted to exporting missiles, designed to carry nuclear warheads, to Iran and China” (United Press International/Washington Times). The six missiles were sold to the Communists three years before the election which replaced retiring President Leonid Kutchma with his leading political opponent, Viktor Yushchenko.

Resignations approach 350,000: The number of Chinese Communist Party members who have resigned in disgust after viewing the Nine Commentaries was almost 350,000 as of 9AM. Resignations are still being posted to the Epoch Times (here and here) and are even ending up on bulletin boards in Communist China itself (Epoch Times).

Rebiya Kadeer now in United States: Rebiya Kadeer, the Uighur activist jailed for over five years for trying to send newspaper articles to the U.S. (the Communists called it “endangering state security”), is now safe in the United States (BBC). Kadeer is a Uighur – a member of the leading ethnic group in East Turkestan before and after it was invaded by the Communists in 1949 (the Communists would have you believe East Turkestan is a Chinese province called “Xinjiang”). The Uighurs, arguably the most pro-American Muslims on Earth, have suffered brutally under the fifty-plus-year occupation.

From the Falun Gong War: Meng Xiangji, a student at Purdue University, called on Communist China to release her mother, Liu Guifu, from jail. Liu has been arrested five times for her belief in Falun Gong. Report: Epoch Times

Cadres set up mining safety office: The Communists announced with much fanfare the creation of “a special department to try and cut the country's high number of coal mining accidents” (BBC). However, nothing was mentioned about ending the ban on independent labor unions, which puts miners at the mercy of miner owners – many of whom are also local or provincial cadres, including “safety inspectors” (fifth item).

Commentary on Communist China: Arnold Beichman, Washington Times, calls for “joint congressional resolution supporting” President Bush’s call from worldwide democracy, but unlike the President, he adds Communist China as a target of said resolution. Meanwhile, Lev Navrozov (Newsmax) is baffled by the failure of both the American “establishment” and its leading critics to focus on the Communist China threat.

IAEA head calls Stalinist North Korea a greater threat than Iran: International Atomic Energy Agency Chief Mohammed ElBaradei told CNN that the Stalinist North is “imminent threat or an imminent danger,” something Iran was not, in his view. The fact that they both have been greatly aided militarily by Communist China – and are helping each other in regards to missile improvement (eleventh item) – seemed to escape him.

Rice calls on SNK to return to talks: Meanwhile, in Japan, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice called on SNK to “come to the six-nation talks” (Washington Post) and “be in the spirit of trying to move forward in those talks.” One would have hoped the rather depressing history of previous rounds of talks on the Stalinist nuclear arsenal would lead the U.S. to the more rational policy of liberation. Sadly, one would be wrong.

News of the Day (March 17)

Rebiya Kadeer freed: Rebiya Kadeer, one of the most prominent Uighur activists imprisoned by Communist China, was set free “for medical treatment in the US” (BBC). Kadeer was arrested and sent to jail for “endangering state security” (BBC), i.e., trying to send newspaper reports about the Uighur community to the U.S. The Uighurs – the leading ethnic group in East Turkestan before and after it was invaded by the Communists in 1949 – have suffered brutally under the fifty-plus-year occupation.

U.S. won’t push anti-Communist resolution in UN: On a more depressing front, the U.S. “said it would not seek to censure China at the annual meeting of the UN commission on human rights in Geneva” (BBC). The Bush Administration cited unspecified “progress in some of the things that we have been working on.”

Nine Commentaries broadcast reached eight provinces: Eight provincial and six satellite television stations in Communist China had their programming interrupted by “with broadcasts about The Nine Commentaries on the Chinese Communist Party.” Zhao Zifa, Epoch Times, finds one very pleased viewer.

On the 300,000 resignations from the CCP: Feng Changle, Epoch Times, talks to some of the 300,000 who have resigned from the Party; the paper reprinted resignations from Vietnam Party organizations, apparently inspired by the Nine Commentaries.

More commentary on Communist China: Thomas Olivier, Epoch Times, has harsh words for the Communist “anti-secession law.” Kati Molnar, also from the Epoch Times, examines Hong Kong’s recent past, and absently ponders its future.

Defectors from Stalinist North Korea tell their stories: A number of defectors from Stalinist North Korea spoke of the terrible, brutal behavior of the Kim Jong-il regime. They also detailed Communist China’s sickening treatment of SNK refugees. The cadres send back any refugee they find, forcing escapees to live as nonpersons and, in the case of many women, sex slaves. Report: Voice of America via Epoch Times

Stalinist North Korean kicks out United Nations: The Kim Jong-il regime told the United Nations Office of Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs that it was no longer needed in the Stalinist North. The Stalinists are only interested in “development assistance such as machinery for agriculture” (Washington Times), not prying eyes that might object to the regime’s history of stealing food from its own people (fifth item).

U.S. missile defense deployed with SNK in mind: The nearly operational American missile defense system, which “could be switched on during an emergency situation” (World Net Daily), is ready to handle “an attack out of Northeast Asia” (read: SNK), according to its commander, Major General John Holly.

News of the Day (March 16)

Column of the Day: Tom Donnelly, Daily Standard (website of the Weekly Standard) has an excellent piece detailing Communist China’s global ambitions and plans.

Chen Shui-bian rips “anti-secession law”: President Chen Shui-bian personally blasted Communist China’s “anti-secession law,” calling it a “law of aggression” (BBC). Chen added his comments to those of his officials, and is backed up on this by a wide majority of his people, as revealed in the near unanimous opposition to the law in Taiwan’s press – the Communist press, naturally, had a different view (BBC). Communist China continued to take shots at opponents of the “law” (Voice of America via Epoch Times)

More (bad) commentary on the “law”: Jill McGivering, BBC, reveals the problem with her analysis on the situation in the final paragraph: “President Hu has a reputation for being a more pragmatic leader, focused on reform” (three words: Hanyuan County massacre). Jefferson Morely, Washington Post, examines the reaction in the rest of Asia – and is not much better, completely missing Japan’s new assertiveness on Taiwan.

U.S. on Communist China – military “concerning,” but Kazakh pipeline OK: Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice – in a small departure from her predecessor, called Communist China’s military buildup “concerning” (Newsmax). Here’s why the departure was small: “We don't have any desire to have the alliances or our posture be a posture against China.” Meanwhile, the State Department’s top energy official publicly endorsed – you read that right, endorsed – a pipeline in Kazakhstan to export natural gas to Communist China (Washington Times).

Reporters Without Borders rips Eutelstat for scrapping NTDTV in Asia: The free press group demanded Eutelstat “allow NTDTV to continue using its satellites” (Epoch Times) an end the blocking of the anti-Communist network’s Asian signal (seventh item).

As CCP resignations pass 300,000, Cadres blamed TV broadcast on Falun Gong: Just before midnight last night (EST), the Nine Commentaries on the Chinese Communist Party inspired resignation number 300,000 from the Party. Meanwhile, the Communists acknowledged the temporary broadcast on its satellite highlighting the resignations (third item), and blamed it on Falun Gong. Lin Zhongbao, whose mother was a Falun Gong practitioner and “dropped from 140 pounds to less than 70 pounds” during her persecution by the Communists, blasted the Party and praised the Nine Commentaries, as did Huang Hua Gang editor Xin Hao-Nian during a seminar on the Commentaries in Philadelphia (all pieces from the Epoch Times).

Head of Communist-owned bank quits: Zhang Enzhao, the head of China Construction Bank “has quit” (BBC). The South China Morning Post and Reuters reported probes into “the disappearance of money from a branch in the northeastern Jilin province” and “kickbacks relating to the procurement of computer equipment” respectively. Corruption has run rampant through China Construction Bank and other Communist-owned banks.

More commentary on Communist China: Helle Dale, Washington Times, calls on the European Union to “heed voices of reason at home” and drop its plan to lift the arms embargo against Communist China. Two longtime members, National Review Online columnist John Derbyshire and Parapundit founder Randall Parker, express proper skepticism about Communist China becoming a democracy all by itself – although Derb’s assertion that the Communists’ geopolitical objectives will stop at regional domination was disconcerting. Cecil E. Roberts, international president of the United Mine Workers of America, calls on the President and Congress to “put far more pressure on China to begin implementing true health and safety protections for the country's coal miners and all its other workers” (Washington Post) and on the Communists themselves “to allow its workers to belong to legitimate, free trade unions.”

Stalinist North Korean threatens to build more nuclear weapons: The Kim Jong-il regime claimed it would have to “take necessary countermeasures, including bolstering of its nuclear arsenal, to cope with the extremely hostile attempt of the U.S. to bring down [our] system” (Washington Times). If only it were true.

News of the Day (March 15)

Yesterday’s News of the Day should have been Dated March 14; apologies for the error.

Reaction to Communist China’s “anti-secession law”: Communist China’s “anti-secession law” was quickly denounced on Taiwan, both by elected President Chen Shui-bian and some of his leading political opponents. The position of Chen and his government is not news, but a number Chen’s opponents joined him; ripping the “law” as “neither necessary nor wise” (Washington Post). Meanwhile, a recent poll cited by the Post reported “that 93 percent of the public opposed China's threat, 84 percent rejected the law's claim that Taiwan is part of China and 56 percent believed Taiwan should respond by increasing defense spending.”

Communist China did claim some support from the law – from Russia, Syria, and Belarus – but then took it a little too far when it tried to add the European Union to the list. In fact, the European Union’s only reference to the law was negative (Cybercast News). Australia – caught between close ties with the U.S. and Communist China – nonetheless held out the possibility of cooperating with the U.S. to thwart a Communist invasion of the island democracy (Cybercast News). Calgary Sun columnist Paul Jackson also blasted the Communists for their threats against Taiwan, “anti-secession law” included.

On Communist China and the United States: Peter Brookes, Heritage Foundation, has an excellent column describing Communist China’s ambitions for Taiwan, how it is using its Stalinist North Korean and Iranian allies to fulfill those ambitions, and why the U.S. must stand fast and demand the Communists stop misbehaving (Cybercast News). Jonathon Beale, BBC, gives a conventional-wisdom analysis of Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice’s trip to Asia. Wes Vernon, Newsmax, calls attention to Communist China’s extensive espionage network in the United States (see also fourth item).

Resignations the CCP near 300,000: OK, we didn’t hit 300,000 resignations yesterday, but as of 1 PM today, the number was 296,880. Ding Ke, a former special agent of the Security Department of the CCP, told Lu Qingshuang and Guo Re of the Epoch Times that the Nine Commentaries on the Chinese Communist Party had a tremendous impact. Stephen Gregory, also from the Epoch Times, also credits the Nine Commentaries. Meanwhile, the paper also reprinted a touching Communist Youth League resignation – from a fourteen year-old who chillingly remembers being told the red necktie symbolizing the CYL “was dyed in blood.” Meanwhile, the campaign against the party even reached the Communists’ own satellites, temporarily (Epoch Times).

On the Falun Gong War: The Epoch Times interviews Li Ying, a thirteen-year-old girl who lost both her parents to the Communist persecution against Falun Gong.

More on Communist China: Robin Lustig, BBC, finds Communist China very prosperous by all appearances, but he quickly notes it is just that: an appearance. Hu Ping, Epoch Times, answers those who argue against freedom for the Chinese people on the claim that “freedom” has no corresponding word in the Chinese language. Hu notes that humor also has no Chinese word, but the Chinese people know how to laugh.

Pro-U.S. South Korean opposition leader profiled: Park Geun Hye, whose mother was murdered in 1974 by a terrorist from Stalinist North Korea, is now head of South Korea’s pro-American opposition, the Grand National Party. Anthony Faiola, Washington Post, interviewed this leading opponent of dovish President Roh Moo-hyun.

News of the Day (March 13)

Communist China enshrines “anti-secession law”: On Monday, Communist China’s rubber stamp parliament passed its “anti-secession law,” which purported to set policy for Taiwan despite the fact that the Communist regime never set foot there (MSNBC). As previous reports and text of the law itself (BBC) make clear, the Communists gave themselves the right to invade and crush the island democracy if “possibilities for a peaceful re-unification should be completely exhausted,” which is vague enough to mean whatever the cadres want it to mean. Taiwan, as one would expect, was furious – officials called the measure a “war bill” (CNN) and elected President Chen Shui-bian “called for hundreds of thousands of people to join a mass street protest later this month” (BBC, Bloomberg reported that Chen asked for a million people to take to the streets).

The new “law” inspired editorial comments around the world. The weakest came from the Japan Times (via Washington Times), which insisted the bellicose language coming out of Beijing couldn’t possibly be real. More sober opinions came from the editors of the Washington Times themselves, although they seemed to believe the U.S. should simply “continue sending the appropriate signals back to Beijing as a deterrent against Chinese military action.” Don Feder, also in the Washington Times, went one better, calling on the Bush administration to end the insane “one China” policy (which implies Taiwan should be under Beijing’s eventual control). Charles Smith, Newsmax, concurred, saying “If China, America and Europe want global peace, then we must all accept a free Taiwan.” The editors of the Washington Post used the issue to take aim at the European Union’s plan to end its arms embargo with Communist China.

Secretary of State talks to Washington Times, begins visit to Asia: Before heading off to Asia for a trip that is sure to include another ill-fated attempt to talk Communist China into putting pressure on Stalinist North Korea (Washington Post) – this quarter’s advice clearly went unheeded – she sat down for to talk to the Washington Times. During the interview, she stuck by her earlier comment that SNK was an “outpost of tyranny,” but fumbled on Communist China: “you have to recognize that China is going to be an influence and so to try to steer that influence into positive directions, not negative ones.”

Communist China working to wean away U.S. allies, build closer ties to Iran: Meanwhile, Communist China is also moving on two fronts seemingly – and maddeningly – ignored by the Administration: energy and diplomatic clout. The energy front has, as previously noted, led Communist China to deepen its friendship with Iran (Parapundit) as part of what Chietigj Bajpaee, of Civic Exchange, called an “energy cold war” (Asia Times). As for the diplomatic maneuvers, also known as “soft power,” Joshua Kurlantzick, of The New Republic, takes not of the alarming trend in Prospect, as does the aforementioned Parapundit. Of course, Communist China’s increasing military buildup must also be watched, as the BBC’s Adam Brookes notes.

Communist textile exports to U.S. zoom upward: On January 1 of this year, a slew of American trade restrictions against Communist Chinese textiles ended. The resulting effect on Communist exports to the United States was as follows: “some items from China rose by 1,000% in January,” according to the National Coalition of Textile Organizations (cited by the BBC). One analyst concluded that 10,000 U.S. textile jobs vanished in January and February. The overall trade deficit with Communist China for January was nearly $12 billion dollars (CNN).

Washington Post editor’s interview with People’s Daily land his paper in hot water: Phillip Bennett, managing editor of the Washington Post, had an interview with the Communist People’s Daily, during which he noted “his paper never characterizes China as a dictatorship” (World Net Daily). The stunning comment won the rhetorical double-barrel from World Net Daily’s founder, Joseph Farah. More importantly, as the Post editions themselves revealed – Bennett is dead wrong. A Saturday editorial on Taiwan ripped the “totalitarian Chinese government,” while Post reporter John Pomfret took aim at a slavish biography of Jiang Zemin written by Robert Lawrence Kuhn – a book that the Party is, of course, promoting to the hilt (Post again). Yours truly is far from a Post fan – their support of “engagement” is no secret – but it is nowhere near as accommodating of the cadres as Bennett says – or apparently thinks – it is. If I’m Bennett’s boss, I demand a retraction or a resignation – the guy clearly doesn’t read his own paper!

U.S. rips Communist China for treatment of SNK refugees: Communist China’s treatment of refugee from Stalinist North Korea “is violating at least four articles of the international convention on refugees,” according to the State Department (Cybercast News). State issued a report to Congress which noted that “Beijing's actions in repatriating North Koreans place them at risk of ‘serious abuses, including the possibility of torture and execution.’” The Communists send back to SNK any refugee they find, forcing them to live as nonpersons in Communist China.

Media firms looking for pot of gold in Communist China as NTDTV is shut down: Big Media giants such as News Corporation (Fox) and Viacom (CBS) are looking to the “1.3 billion customers” and getting “involved in joint ventures with Chinese players” (BBC), despite the continuing Communist crackdown on media content deemed “harmful.” The response from the western media corporations was summed up by this deeply disheartening line from Jeanne-Marie Gescher of CGA consultancy: “who do not care how people consume media – they just want people to consume more of it.” While all of this was going on, NTDTV, the scrappy Chinese-language, dissident-run worldwide network, went dark on the Asian continent due to an abrupt decision by Eutelsat to stop transmitting, a move NTDTV programming director Samuel Zhou attributed to “pressure exerted on them by Chinese authorities” (Epoch Times).

Attorney defending Falun Gong practitioner soon to join him in jail: Guoding Guo wrote to the Epoch Times earlier this year about the plight of his client, Falun Gong practitioner Qu Yanlai (sixth item). Now, Guo himself is likely going to jail for his efforts to defend Qu (Epoch Times).

As resignations the CCP climb, the Party pushes “maintaining advancement”: The Nine Commentaries on the Chinese Communist Party has likely inspired 300,000 resignations from the CCP by the time you read this, and desperate cadres have resorted to “maintaining advancement” – which “requires its members, including hospitalized patients and retired elders, to reaffirm their dedication to the party.” If the response of these 46 senior nuclear industry ex-cadres is any indication, it’s not working (both stories from the Epoch Times).

Cadre admits economic data is fudged: Li Deshui, the cadre in charge of statistics in Communist China, admitted this week that “Many provinces and cities overestimated GDP and reported false statistics” (Epoch Times). While Li implied that the national figures were clean, one economist earlier reported from abroad that the Communists’ national stats were actually off by over a full percentage point (Other Mainland News).

Inflation coming, courtesy of the Communists: Communist China’s central bank projected “a wide range of price increases this year” (Epoch Times), most of them courtesy of the cadres themselves, in the “Public utilities and services” sectors.

Tung gets kicked upstairs as Tsang takes over: Donald Tsang was “named to serve as Hong Kong's acting chief executive” (United Press International/Washington Times). Tsang quickly “set 10 July as the date to choose a permanent successor to Tung Chee-hwa” (BBC). The choice will be made by the same Communist-appointed panel that picked Tung, and the Communists have already made clear they want Tsang – but only until 2007. According to Hong Kong's City University Professor Anthony Cheung (quoted by Time Asia), “Beijing will regard the next two years as a test.” Although Tsang is far more popular among Hong Kong’s people than his predecessor, said people will – once again – have absolutely no say in the matter. Meanwhile, the Communists rescued their lackey from the cold by naming him vice-chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, a body that supposedly “advises parliament” (BBC).

Loose ends still united in Chen Shui-bian shooting case: The announcement by Taiwanese police that Chen Yi-hsiung shot President Chen Shui-bian one day before his re-election – and then killed himself when the President won the vote (sixth item) – is being challenged by at least one opposition politician. The controversy surrounding the assassination attempt of the President – his political opponents insist it was a post-shooting wave of sympathy that won Chen a second term rather than their own craven behavior toward Communist China – continues. Report: Time Asia

Commentary on Communist China: The editors of the London Telegraph take a very sober look at Communist China’s treatment of Hong Kong and Taiwan (Link courtesy John Derbyshire, National Review Online columnist and Member since 2002). Li Dali, Epoch Times, finds that elected officials in the United States are far less willing to waste public money than cadres in Communist China.

Roh Moo-hyun ripped: Former Professor R.J. Rummel, who runs the Democratic Peace blog, gives the rhetorical double-barrel to dovish South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun for “trying to control harsh criticism of him and his tyranny; preventing or downplaying reports by North Korean refugees of the horrible life they escaped; and providing significant food and economic aid, including building a huge industrial park in the north.”